Stripes Puzzle
Photography ©Mary Danz
9 5/8” x 16 3/4”
Moderate Level: 240 waterjet cut pieces
Difficult Level: 486 waterjet cut pieces
Waterproof PVC
Made in the USA
Mary Danz is an American photographer based in Dallas. She has traveled to isolated locations of the world to capture images of wildlife and landscapes like her featured zebras photo. Mary’s “Stripes” was photographed in the Maasai Mara National Reserve located in Southwestern Kenya, East Africa, along the Tanzanian border. Here’s the story behind the photo:
Whenever I'm in Kenya, I have to visit the Reserve because it’s one of the most famous and important wildlife conservation and wilderness areas of Africa. I was in Kenya photographing for a non-profit organization so, I hired a local guide from the Maasai tribe because they're amazing trackers and know the land so well. Also, the native guides understand about light, angles, and patience for waiting for the perfect shot.
It's common to see a lot of zebras together but we waited and waited for the zebras to line up and give us something a little different. After a while, I believe they felt a little uneasy with our presence and began to cluster or bunch together. They usually do this when they feel threatened to create a natural camouflage to confuse predators. With a little patience and waiting for the right angle, I felt like I got a really unique shot. A fun fact about zebras - the pattern of a zebra's stripes are unique for each individual zebra! Like, snowflakes!”
Mary is currently working on her first book BRAVE HER, a major photographic project about facing one’s greatest fears and overcoming adversity through powerful portraits of women. In between adventures, Mary also runs an exquisite portrait photography business and cohosts Stages Podcast.
Visit marydanzphotography.com or follow @marydanzphoto.